System and methods for obtaining digital multimedia files from a server based on optically scanned digital rights management information tag imprinted on a store purchased compact multimedia disk

ABSTRACT

System and methods for obtaining digital multimedia files from a server based on optically scanned digital rights management information tag imprinted on physical media is described. A greeting card or gift card can be provided with indicia containing a code printed thereon. Then the code can be optically scanned by client device. The code can then be provided by the client device to a remote server for retrieval of multimedia files identified by the code if the code authorizes multimedia file retrieval from the remote server by the client device. Then the client device retrieves multimedia files identified by the code from the remote server following authorization of multimedia file retrieval by the remote server based on the code.

INVENTION PRIORITY

The present invention claims priority as a continuation application toU.S. application Ser. No. 14/995,992 filed Jan. 14, 2016, with is also acontinuation of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/103,314, bothentitled “System and Methods for obtaining digital multimedia files froma server based on optically scanned digital rights managementinformation tag imprinted on a store purchased compact multimedia disk”filed Jan. 14, 2014, which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Compact multimedia disks such as CDs and DVDs containing multimedia(e.g., songs, movies, software) are still available for purchase formretail stores. Nowadays, patrons purchasing these compact disks may onlyhave a CD/DVD player (typically located in their car if a CD) to processinformation on the multimedia disks (hereinafter both referred to as“CD”). A growing number of everyday consumers do not have a CD readerassociated with a personal computer (let alone a personal computer) thatcan retrieve and process digital files obtained optically from CDs fordigital rights management processing (i.e., for authenticating thatrights to access/use media are valid and providing access to/use of themedia after authentication).

What the present inventors believe is needed is an alternate and novelway to obtain files associated with a CD purchase by using a serialnumber or optical tags (e.g., bar codes, QR codes) imprinted onpurchased CDs that can be scanned in order to access, process and enjoy,without a computer-based CD reader or player, the digital filesassociated with the media also contained on the purchased CD, andbearing a single-use license to the patron once purchased, that arestored on a remote server of a vendor (e.g., iTunes store, Google PlayStore) that sells, licenses and manages copyrighted multimedia.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

In order to overcome the limitations currently existing in the art, thepresent inventors provide systems and methods for obtaining digitalmultimedia files from a server after optically reading a scanabledigital rights management information tag imprinted on a store-purchaseditems (e.g., compact disk, greeting card) and utilizing the tag toauthenticate rights bestowed upon on the user so that the user canobtain digital files for the media from a vendor's remote server (e.g.,iTunes store, Google Play Store, Amazon) for processing by a digitalrights management service (e.g., iTunes™, Google Play™, etc.), and thatare accessible by and associated with the user, wherein the user canobtain and render the media via the digital rights management service ona device operated by the user (e.g., portable devices, a smartphone, atablet computer, or a laptop computer).

It is also a feature of the present invention to enable a purchaser andlicensee thereby of media to provide it as a gift to another person oncepurchased using the digital rights management service. Gift cards areoften provided as gifts but merely provide the recipient with a dollaramount (credit) to spend with a vendor. Instead, in accordance withfeatures of the present invention, the purchaser can customize anarrangement of media (e.g., songs and pictures) and provide it as a giftto the recipient via a unique code (e.g., barcode or QR code) that canbe imprinted on a greeting card (e.g., birthday card), or associatedwith a gift card, or that can also be obtained from the vendorelectronically during a transaction with its server. The recipient canthen enjoy media that was custom arranged by the initial purchase andgift-giver.

Rights to digital media (e.g., music or videos) can be purchased andthen transferred to a recipient as a gift for their use. But if therecipient already had rights to some of the media provided in thearrangement (e.g., duplicate of songs from the same recording artist),then the digital rights management service can offer/provide therecipient the ability to redeem the received media for alternative mediaof the same value. The redemption period can also be provided for alimited time period, and at a discount, or the value can diminish overtime.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system in accordance with the embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates another system in accordance with the embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with theembodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with theembodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with theembodiments; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with theembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the following figure, aspects of the present inventionprovides a system and methods for transferring media files from adigital rights vending server 110 (e.g., iTunes store) into a mediarights management service account 115 (e.g., iTunes account) that can beaccessed over a data network 150. The media rights management account115 is associated with a purchaser of physical media 120 (e.g., acompact disk or greeting card) bearing an optically retrievable DRM code125 printed thereon.

With respect to a CD, the purchaser can physically procure the physicalmedia 120 in the form of a CD and bearing embedded digital multimediadata (e.g., music, video) therein from a store and can optically scanthe optically retrievable DRM code 125 (e.g., bar code or QR code)imprinted on a printable area of the CD 120 with a an optical scanner130 incorporated in a wireless handheld device 135 (e.g., smartphone ortablet computer). The optical scanner can be provided in the form of adigital camera. The wireless handheld device can also run an application140 (e.g., iTunes) that can further enable access to and rendering(e.g., playing, displaying, executing) of digital files associated withdigital media stored in or accessible with the wireless handheld device135. Digital media can be accessed from either or both of the digitalrights vending server 110 and media rights management service account115. The wireless handheld device 135 can access the digital rightsmanagement service application 140 (iTunes) and provide the optical codeinformation retrieved from optically retrievable DRM code 125 to theremote sever 110 or the media rights management account 115 to accessand download digital files (e.g., songs, videos) representing thedigital media information that can also be stored on the CD 120. Thepurchaser can then access the same digital media files contained on theCD 120 from the media rights management service 115 without requiring anoptical reader 130 typically mounted in desktop computers to read/obtainthe same files embedded on the CD 120 for storage on the wirelesshandheld device 135, or a remotely accessible account 115 associatedtherewith.

Referring to FIG. 2, in accordance with another embodiment, a purchasercan create a unique multimedia package as a gift for a target recipient,the purchaser can arrange any mixture of personalized messages,pictures, videos and music and store the final gift package as a file ona server 110 accessible via the digital rights management serviceaccount 115. The unique code can be provided in the form of opticallyretrievable DRM code 125 printed on a physical card 120 (e.g., birthdaycard), rather than a CD, or can be associated with the serial number orindicia code also imprinted on a gift card (e.g., iTunes gift card) thatcan be physically provided to the gift recipient. The gift recipient canthen access the package from the server 110 by logging into (or settingup then logging into) their own digital rights management serviceaccount (e.g., like purchaser's account 115), or the account can beopened automatically after scanning the optically retrievable DRM code125. The gift recipient can then render (play) the multimediapresentation or gifted multimedia (e.g., video, songs) on their wirelesshandheld device 135 (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop computer). If themedia includes a gift of music or video by artists available forpurchase from a vendor (e.g., iTunes store) accessible from the digitalrights management service (e.g., iTunes application 140 running on aniPhone), and the gift recipient already has the same media, then asdescribed hereinbefore the recipient can trade the gifted media for newmedia (perhaps of like value) that may be available from the vendor. Thetrade can be facilitated by the digital rights management service 140via the gifted user's account 115 and the vendor server 110. Optionally,the time period to trade media can be limited, or the amount of creditcan be reduced upon redemption as time goes on.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flow diagram 300 of a process in accordance withfeatures of the present embodiment is illustrated. As shown in Block310, physical media is provided with a printed inidicia located thereonin the form of a code that can be optically scanned. As shown in Block320, the code is optically scanned by a client device (e.g., cell phone,tablet). As shown in Block 330, the code is provided by the clientdevice to a remote server for retrieval of multimedia files, ifauthorized by the remote server. Then, as shown in Block 340, the clientdevice retrieves multimedia files from the remote server followingauthorization by the remote server.

Referring to FIG. 4, a flow diagram 400 of a process in accordance withfeatures of the present embodiment is illustrated. As shown in Block410, physical media is provided with a printed indicia located thereonin the form of a code that can be optically scanned by a client deviceto provide access by the remote device to a remote server to obtainmultimedia files if authorized by the remote server based on the code.

Referring to FIG. 5, a flow diagram 500 of a process in accordance withfeatures of the present embodiment is illustrated. As shown in Block510, a server is provided that is programmed to manage digital rightsand access or verify user accounts to determine authorized access ofmultimedia files based on codes received from remote client devicesafter the remote client devices are used to retrieve the codes byoptically scanning indicia printed on physical media provided to usersof the remote client devices. As shown in Block 520, the server receivesa code obtained from optically scanned indicia printed on physical mediaby a user of a remote client device. As shown in Block 530, the serverdetermines if code provided by the remote client device authorizes theremote client device to retrieve multimedia files also identified by thecode from the server. Then as shown in Block 540, the server providesthe multimedia files requested by the remote client based on codeauthorization and multimedia file identification of the multimedia bythe server following authorization by the server.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flow diagram 600 of a process in accordance withfeatures of the present embodiment is illustrated. As shown in Block610, a greeting card or gift card is provided with indicia containing acode printed thereon. Then as shown in Block 620, the code is opticallyscanned by client device. As shown in Block 630, the code is provided bythe client device to a remote server for retrieval of multimedia filesidentified by the code if the code authorizes multimedia file retrievalfrom the remote server by the client device. Then as shown in Block 640,Client device retrieves multimedia files identified by the code from theremote server following authorization of multimedia file retrieval bythe remote server based on the code.

The ability to create unique media for gifting and enables media tradingcan translate in to new revenue for multimedia rights vendors such asiTunes and Google Play. The creation process could also create revenuefor what is believed by many to be a dying greeting card industry (e.g.,Hallmark), which is offering eCards (digital files containingpersonalized messages that can be delivered via email and that can berendered on a computer as a multimedia presentation) in addition tophysical cards that can be purchased at stores. Collaboration betweenHallmark and iTunes (for example) could actually benefit both companieswith increased sales associated with gifting and benefitting fromincreased sales for special occasions celebrated by consumers.

The Internet publications provided on the following pages providesdescriptions of digital existing digital rights retrieval and managementand are incorporated by reference in their entirety for its teaching.

1. A method for digital rights management, comprising: providing agreeting card or gift card is provided with indicia containing a codeprinted thereon; otpically scanning the code by client device; providingthe code from the client device to a remote server for retrieval ofmultimedia files identified by the code if the code authorizesmultimedia file retrieval from the remote server by the client device;and retrieving multimedia files identified by the code from the remoteserver with the client device following authorization of multimedia fileretrieval by the remote server based on the code.